A Brief History of U.S.-Israeli-Palestinian Relations

Even though Palestine is not an official state, the U.S. and Palestine have a long history of rocky diplomatic relations. With Palestinian Authority (PA) head Mahmoud Abbas set to appeal for the creation of a Palestinian state at the United Nations on September 19, 2011—and the U.S. set to veto the measure—that foreign policy history is again in the spotlight. The story of U.S.-Palestinian relations is lengthy, and it obviously includes much of the history of Israel. This is the first of several articles on the U.S.-Palestinian-Israeli relationship. History Palestine is an Islamic region, or perhaps several regions, in and around the Jewish-state of Israel in the Middle East. Its four million people live largely in the West Bank along the Jordan River, and in the Gaza Strip near Israels border with Egypt. Israel occupies both the West Bank and Gaza Strip. It created Jewish settlements in each place, and has waged several small wars for control of those areas. The United States has traditionally backed Israel and its right to exist as a recognized state. At the same time, the U.S. has sought cooperation from Arab nations in the Middle East, both to achieve its energy needs and to secure a safe environment for Israel. Those dual American goals have put Palestinians in the midst of a diplomatic tug-of-war for nearly 65 years. Zionism Jewish and Palestinian conflict began at the turn of the 20th Century as many Jews worldwide began the Zionist movement. Because of discrimination in the Ukraine and other parts of Europe, they sought territory of their own around the Biblical holy lands of the Levant between the coast of the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River. They also wanted that territory to include Jerusalem. Palestinians also consider Jerusalem a holy center. Great Britain, with a significant Jewish population of its own, backed Zionism. During World War I, it took control of much of Palestine and maintained post-war control through a League of Nations mandate finalized in 1922. Arab Palestinians revolted against British rule on several occasions in the 1920s and 1930s. Only after Nazis staged mass executions of Jews during the Holocaust of World War II did the international community begin backing the Jewish quest for a recognized state in the Middle East. Partitioning and Diaspora The United Nations authored a plan to partition the region into Jewish and Palestinian areas, with the intention that each become states. In 1947 Palestinians and Arabs from Jordan, Egypt, Iraq, and Syria began hostilities against Jews. That same year saw the beginning of a Palestinian diaspora. Some 700,000 Palestinians were displaced as Israeli boundaries became clear. On May 14, 1948, Israel declared its independence. The United States and most members of the United Nations recognized the new Jewish state. Palestinians call the date al-Naqba, or the catastrophe. Full-blown war erupted. Israel beat the coalition of Palestinians and Arabs, taking territory that the United Nations had designated for Palestine. Israel, however, was always felt insecure as it did not occupy the West Bank, the Golan Heights, or the Gaza Strip. Those territories would serve as buffers against Jordan, Syria, and Egypt respectively. It fought—and won—wars in 1967 and 1973 to occupy those territories. In 1967 it also occupied the Sinai Peninsula from Egypt. Many Palestinians who had fled in the diaspora, or their descendants, found themselves again living under Israeli control. Although considered illegal under international law, Israel has also built Jewish settlements throughout the West Bank. U.S. Backing The United States backed Israel throughout those wars. The U.S. has also continuously sent military equipment and foreign aid to Israel. American support of Israel, however, has made its relations with neighboring Arab countries and Palestinians problematic. Palestinian displacement and the lack of an official Palestinian state became a central tenet of much anti-American Islamic and Arabic sentiment. The United States has had to craft foreign policy that both helps keep Israel secure and allows American access to Arab oil and shipping ports.

United There Is Little We Can Not Do - 1071 Words

4 September 2015 â€Å"United There Is Little We Cannot Do† President John Fitzgerald Kennedy addressed all of mankind on the 20th of January in 1961 with his inaugural speech. President Kennedy covered many topics that were both important and controversial at the time that the speech was given; those matters included, but were not limited to, human rights and liberties, world peace, poverty in and around the country, arms control, and the uniting between all nations few and far between. John F. Kennedy was wise in not only his order of which he recognized and introduced the many problems that were great deals at that time, but also the way in which he emphasized how important it was for both sides to join together to tackle these dilemmas. One topic that President Kennedy repeatedly mentioned was a need to further progress human rights and liberties. The former president, at one point in the inaugural speech stated, â€Å"we are unwilling to witness or permit the undoing of those human rights to which this nation has always been committed, and to which we are committed today and around the world†(Kennedy). President Kennedy significantly increased the amount of assistance to the Vietnamese people under control of communist leadership; which shows he took a strong posture not only helping our nation, but nations around the globe as well, simply because it is the right thing to do. He put the weight of success or failure in the hands of all Americans to strive for their libertiesShow MoreRelatedThe Issue Of Illegal Immigration1623 Words   |  7 Pagesimmigration. The primary question that is asked is, â€Å"How will you deport and limit the number of illegal immigrants in the United States?† This quest ion got me thinking, If I were in their position what would I say in response? 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lord of files Essay Example For Students

lord of files Essay Freedom: Lack of RestrictionsThis is our island. It is a good island until the grownups come to fetch us well have fun (Golding 35). The lack of restrictions on the island in Lord of the Flies affected the way the boys acted on a day-to-day basis. The lack of leadership and the failure to cooperate caused the boys to split, and rebel against each other. Without restrictions, the boys ruled themselves and answered to no one, except those they were loyal to or feared. The boys found out that no one is really in control and they can do what they wish, although they may face consequences for it. There is a lack of restrictions on the island and the boys have freedom to do what they want. This is shown by their lack of caring for each other and the tasks that they are assigned. The boys on the island tried to work together at first, but that failed because of a lack of strong leadership and irresponsibility among the children. You remember the meeting? How everyone was going to work hard until the shelters were finished? said Ralph, the boy trying to keep order on the island (Golding 50). The above quote demonstrates that the boys do what they please; they truly listen to no one and choose their own paths. The lack of restrictions causes the boys to slack off, even knowing that there are no immediate repercussions for their actions. No grownups! cried one of the boys (Golding 8). This comment shows that the boys are free, and no one is there to tell them what to do. They faced each other on the bright beach, astonished at the rub of feeling. From beyond the platform came the shouting of the hunters in the swimming pool. On the end of theplatform, Piggy was lying flat, looking down into the brilliant water (Golding 54). After the boys realized that they had no one to tell them what to do, they took advantage of the situation. Because of this, the boys accomplished little. The boys failed at their assigned tasks because no one is there to tell them what to do, and they have no restrictions. You didnt ought to have let that fire out. You said youd keep the smoke going said Piggy, after becoming frustrated at the younger boys. The boys on the island had no sense of responsibility. If a task was assigned, they would fail at it, do it poorly, or not do it at all. They do this because there is no one to tell them what to do, and they have nothing stopping them from doing what they please. As shown in the book, there is a lack of restrictions on the island and the boys have freedom to do what they want. They ultimately choose their own fate on the island, and decide what will become of them. With no rules or regulations in place, the boys do what they want without fear of repercussion. The lack of restrictions on the island allows the boys to do what they please, but the boys realize they have to work together to survive.